Forced flow portable air heater for mounting upon the exterior walls of rooms to be heated



Nov. 21, 1950 A. H. STEINMETZ 2,530,486

FORCED FLOW PORTABLE AIR HEATER FOR MOUNTING upon THE EXTERIOR WALLS 0FROOMS TO BE HEATED Filed April e, 1948 2 Sheets-Shet 1 [I II II HF o N ol 1 l O Q I o i I I I i o E i k l O I I I 0 I l I l l l l l "3 INVENTOR.4414 000 SI'El/VMETZ, $9 BY ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 21, 1950 A. H. STEINMETZ 2,530,486

FORCED now PORTABLE AIR HEATER FOR MOUNTING UPON THE EXTERIOR WALLS 0FROOMS TO BE HEATED Filed April 6, 1948 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 HEATER mews/aT/IERMOSTAT INVEN TOR. AL W000 H STE/NMETZ,

47' 7'02 NE Y5.

. Patented Nov. 21, 1950 [TE D s TATES PATENT oFF ca f anneal)FLowBon'rABLEAm HEAEIJER FOR: Y

MOUNTING UPON THE EXTERIQR WALLS. o1 RooMsv TO BE HEATED Alwood H.Steinmetz, Watertown; S. Dak.

Application April 6, 1948,. Serial No. 19,362

My invention relates to portable heaters for rooms or the like, andmore, particularly to such heaters as are adaptedto be detachablysecured to the outer side of the exterior walls of such rooms with meanscarried by the heater and extending. into the. room for heating thesame. One use. for the heater. according to the invention is to providea unit for heating the commodity compartment of trucks, trailers,semitrailers or, freight cars.

All of suchvehicles at times. carry goods which requireprotectionagainst sub-freezing temperatures and/or perishables whichrequire refrigeration. Indeed,v many such vehicles are already equippedwithportable refrigerating units to protect such goods in warm weather.However, such refrigerating; equipment is dead weight in the winter timeandis not readily adaptable or satisfactory when attempts are made toconvert them to heating units,

With the foregoing in view, it. is an object of my invention to provideanovel portable heating unit for rooms. or the like.

A further object isto provide a novel portable heating unit for rooms orthe like which is readily adaptable for attachment to the exterior wallof aroom or compartment, such as a vehicle body, without materialalteration of such wall.

Aufurther object is to provide a portable-heatingunit such as that lastdescribed which is selfcontained. and which is adapted to be initiallyactuated by remote control and thereafter operatedas needed by athermostatic control.

A further. object is to provide a novel portable heating unitfor.vehicle bodies which is adapted to provide a winter replacement for aportable refrigerating unit.

Other objects and advantages reside in the pars ticular structure of theinvention, combination and; arrangement of the several parts thereof,and will be readily understood'by those skilled in, the art uponreference to the attached drawing-inconnection'with the followingspecification, wherein: the invention isshown, described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa transverse vertical section through a preferred form of theinvention and taken substantially on the plane of the line l-i of Figure2 Fi ure 2 is a front elevation of the invention, parts. beingbrokenaway and shown in vertical section;

Figure 3. is an, elevationion a reduced scale and 4 Claims. (Cl.126-410) showing the unitaccording to the inventionv applied to; atrailer'truck;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of, the trailer truck body ofFigure. 3 on a slightly. larger scale;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on theplane of. the line 5-5 of Figure 3,,but ona slightly enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View like Figure 1, but showing a.slightly modified, form of the invention;

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view showing aacircuit for. controlling theunit.

Referring specifically to. the drawing,.wherein.

like reference characters have been used throughout. the severalyiews todesignate like parts, as. illustrated in Figure 3, I0 designates atractor truck including a, cab I I fora semi-trailer cargo body [2. Thesemi-trailer body l2 has afront in the forward wall l3- of thetrailer byany: suitable means, such as the bolts which extend through theframe-providing members l5. Av

body of insulating mater ial Isis secured; to the" rear surface of thepanel I?! by any suitable;-

frame members is and, a rear panel 20. The. frame members l9 areformedto be complements ary to the openingformed by the first-mentionedframemembers [5, whereby to provide a tight fit in such opening. Inthis'connection, it should be stated now that the opening in the frontwall of the trailer is adapted in the summertime to have mountedtherein'a portable refrigerating unit. In the. form of inventionillustrated. in

Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the heating unit is, adapted to comprise a:winter-time'replacements for such refrigerating'unit.

The forward surface of the panel I'd-is covered with a suitable sheathof sheet metallic material 2d, the edge'portions of which are rearwardlydi- I rected to-overlie the joint between" the panel '46 and theframe-providing members I 5, whereby to prevent the entrance of water ordust.

A housing 221s secured in any suitable manner to the forward surface'ofthe sheath 21 and comprises a: roof 23. whichi preferably downwardly slpinaesshown. aliorward walbzl'; sidewalls- 2s;

3 and a floor 26. A partition 21 divides the housing 22 into upper andlower compartments 2B and 29, respectively.

The upper compartment 28 has mounted therein in any suitable manner, asby the brackets 33, a fuel tank which is provided with a filler neck andcap 3I which extends through the roof 23 of the housing with awaterproof fit provided by any uitable gasket means 32 surrounding suchneck or spout.

A fuel line 34 extends downwardly from a lower part of the tank 38through the partition 21 and into the compartment 29. Inwardly of thecompartment 29, the fuel line 34 is provided with a cut-off valve 35 ofany suitable or well known form. The compartment 29 has mounted thereinon any suitable brackets 31 a combined fluid fuelburning air heater andhot air-distributing blower generally indicated at 36. Such combinedunit 39 includes a fuel pump 38, a fuel burner 39, a blower Y 40 and ahousing M for heating hot air. The combined unit just described is ofstandard make, with the exception of the fuel. pump 38 which has beenadded to provide a more efficient operation of the device. At the sametime, the fuel pump 38 is a pump of well known make, although notgenerally associated with the combined burner and blower. Air heated inthe housing 4| is discharged through a conduit 42 through the panel I6and insulating material I8 into the interior of the semi-trailer I2. Asshown in Figure and also Figure l, the conduit 42 is upwardly directedinteriorly of the semi-trailer to the roof thereof and dischargesadjacent a rear portion of the trailer. That portion of the conduit 42which extends along the roof of the trailer may be supported on anysuitable brackets 43, Figure 5. Cooled air from the interior of thesemi-trailer I3 is returned to the housing M by means of a conduit 44which is located adjacent the floor of the trailer and extendsdownwardly from the panel I5 to the region of the floor of thesemi-trailer. A frame 45 is secured to the inner panel 2I in anysuitable manner and overlies portions of the conduits 42 and 44 toprotect the same against being damaged by cargo contained in theinterior of the semi-trailer in the event that the same moves about intransit. Such frame 45 is adapted to be detachably secured to the rearpanel 20, or so formed that it may be passed through the opening in thefront wall I3 without being detached from the unitary structure. In thisconnection, it is noted in Figure 1 that by a simple downward rocking ofthe housing and connected parts after the bolts I! have beendisconnected, the entire assembly may be removed from the trailer.However, it may be necessary to disconnect several sections of theconduits 44 and 42.

An exhaust conduit 46 extends downwardly through the floor 26 of thehousing to discharge products of combustion of the heater 39 outwardlyof the trailer. In like manner, an intake conduit 41 is carried by theunder surface of the panel I6 and furnishes air to the burner 39 throughopenings 49 in the floor 25 and the intake 59 of the burner. In thiconnection, the entrance to the conduit 41 is rearwardly directed andopens adjacent the forward surface of the panel I6, whereby to protectthe conduit from being clogged with snow and to limit the entrance ofdust, mud or the like to the interior of the housing. If desired, an airfilter, not shown, may be associated with the intake conduit 4?. Thatportion of the front wall 24 of the housing which overlies thecompartment or section 29 is provided with a, door 51 which is laterallyslidable in upper and lower guideways 52 formed on the front wall 24.Any suitable combined lockproviding means and handle 53 is formed on thedoor 5| for actuating the same in opening and closing directions.

Any suitable temperature-taking means 54, Figure 5, is carried by theframe interiorly of the semi-trailer I2 to take the temperature of theinterio thereof. Such thermometer 54 is mechanically connected to a dial55 carried by the forward wall I3 of the trailer, whereby it will bevisible from the cab II of the tractor I0. Thus, the driver of thetractor It) may look through the rear window of the cab and determinethe temperature of the interior of the semi-trailer without leaving thecab or even stopping the vehicle. Likewise, a tell-tale light 56, Figure4, is mounted on the front wall I3 of the semi-trailer, whereby it isvisible throughthe rear window of the cab to indicate whether or not theheater blower unit 36 is operating. Means now to be described controlthe light 56.

As shown in Figure 7, the circuit for actuating the heater blower unit36 is diagrammatically shown. Such circuit is connected in series withthe tractor battery 5?, ignition switch 58 and a heater switch 59. Theignition switch 58 is, as usual, on the dashboard of the tractor I0 andit is contemplated that the heater switch 59 will likewise be solocated. A lead 69 extends to the ignition circuit, not shown, of thevehicle, while a second lead 6! extends to a thermostat 62, whichcontrols the operation of the heater blower unit 33 after the same hasbeen initially actuated by the heater switch 59. Such thermostat 62 maybe of any suitable well known form. A lead 63 connects the thermostat tothe heater blower unit 36 and the tell-tale light 55 is connected inshunt series between the heater blower unit 35 and the ground 65therefor.

In the operation of the device, when the driver of the vehicle Itdetermines by the dial 55, registering the interior temperature of thesemi-trailer, that the temperature is too low for safety of the goodscontained therein, he actuates or closes the heater switch 59, wherebyto initially actuate the heater blower unit 36. Such operationautomatically lights the burner 39 to heat air in the housing 4 I. Theblower 43 may be actuated when sufficient heated air is in the housing4| to feed the same to the interior of the semi-trailer or the blower 49may be operated simultaneously with the heater 39. In any event,actuation of the heater blower unit 38 continues until the interiortemperature of the semi-trailer I 2 has been raised to a point wherefurther actuation of the unit is temporarily out ofi by the thermostat62. Thereafter, as long as the heater switch 59 is on, the thermostat 62will control the operation of the heater blower unit 35 and maintain theinterior temperature of the semi-trailer at substantially whatevertemperature has been previously set on the thermostat. When further needfor heating of the interior of the semi-trailer I2 is not required, theoperator of the tracor It may cut off operation of the heater blowerunit by opening the heater switch 59.

By providing a unitary structure as described above, the unit accordingto the invention may be moved from trailer to trailer as needed, may besubstituted for a refrigerating unit, not shown, used on the trailerduring the summer months, and may, likewise, be used to heat smallhouses or rooms thereof by attaching the same to the exterior wall. Inthis connection, the form of invention shown in Figure 6 is adapted tobe mounted on the exterior wall. In this connection, the form ofinvention shown in Figure 6 is adapted to bemounted on the exterior wall65 of a room which has no opening formed therein. Such wall 65 need bemodified only to the extent of providing a pair of spaced openingstherethrough for the passage of the conduits 42 and 44. Obviously, thereis no need for the body of insulating material l8 or the mount thereforwhich has been previously described. Likewise, the frame 45 may beeliminated unless the device is used with a trailer or other movablevehicle wherein shifting cargo is likely to damage the conduits 42 andd4. Otherwise, however, the unit is identical to that previouslydescribed and need not be specifically described further at this time.However, in the event that the device is used apart from a motorvehicle, it will be necessary to provide a suitable battery or othersource of electric current for actuating the motors for the heater andblower.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same issusceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limitmyself to the precise structure as shown and described hereinabove,except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A portable heater for rooms, comprising a panel adapted to be mountedon an exterior wall of a room, across an opening in such wall, a body ofinsulating material carried by said panel rearwardly thereof and adaptedto fill said opening, a housing carried by said panel forwardly thereof,a partition in said housing and providing two compartments therein, afuel tank in one of said compartments, 2, combined fluid fuel-burningair heater and hot air distributing blower in the other compartment, afuel line extending through said partition and operatively connectingsaid tank and heater, a hot air conduit connected to said blower andextending through said panel and insulating body interiorly of saidroom, a cold air return conduit connected to said blower and extendingthrough said panel and insulating body interiorly of said room, andmeans for detachably connecting said panel to said wall of said room.

2. A portable heater for rooms, comprising a panel adapted to be mountedon an exterior wall of a room, across an opening in such wall, a body ofinsulating material carried by said panel rearwardly thereof and adaptedto fill said opening, a housing carried by said panel forwardly thereof,a partition in said housing and providing two compartments therein, afuel tank in one of said compartments, a combined fluid fuel-burning airheater and hot air distributing blower in the other compartment, a fuelline extending through said partition and operatively connecting saidtank and heater, a hot air conduit connected to said blower andextending through said panel and insulating body interiorly of saidroom, means for detachably connecting said panel to said wall of saidroom, a relatively rigid frame carried by said panel interiorly of saidroom, and said frame enclosing portions of said conduits to protect thesame.

3. A portable heater for rooms, comprising a panel, means for mountingsaid panel on an exterior wall of a room across a pair of spacedopenings in said wall, a housing carried by said panel exteriorly of thesame and said wall, a partition in said housing providing a pair ofsections therein, a fuel tank in one of said sections, a combined fluidfuel-burning air heater and hot air-distributing blower in the othersection, a fuel line extending through said partition and operativelyconnecting said tank and heater, a hot air conduit connected to saidblower and extending through said panel and one of said openings in saidwall to the interior of said room, a cold air return conduit extendingfrom the interior of said room through the other opening in said wall,through said panel and operatively connected to said blower, arelatively rigid frame carried by said wall interiorly of said room, andsaid frame enclosing portions of said conduits to protect the same.

4. A portable heater for rooms, comprising a panel adapted to be mountedon an exterior wall of a room, a housing carried by said panel, apartition in housing providing upper and lower compartments, a fuel tankin said upper compartment, a combined fluid fuel air heater and hotair-distributing blower in said lower compartment, a fuel lineconnecting said tank to said heater, hot air intake and outlet conduitsoperatively connected to said blower and adapted to be positioned insaid room, said lower compartment including front wall and a floor, ameans mounting said front wall for lateral sliding movement to permitaccess to said lower compartment, an exhaust for said heater extendingthrough said floor, an air intake for said heater extending through saidfloor, and said intake being directed toward the panel side of theheater, whereby when said panel is applied to a room wall the intake isadapted to face the room wall.

ALWOOD H. STEINME'IZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,853,333 Bates Apr. 12, 19322,037,857 Fox Apr. 21, 1936 2,269,387 Weaver June 6, 1942 2,372,897Holthouse Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 264,282 GreatBritain June 20, 1927

